On
fifth of June (2008) a group of followers of Shiv Sangram Sanghtan
(SSS), led by a former MLC of Nationalist Congress party, attacked
the house of editor of Loksatta, a prominent Marathi daily, Kumar
Ketkar and tried to break open the house. They broke the glass panes,
did other possible damage and smeared the house with coal tar, before
leaving. They, as per their leader, were expressing their spontaneous
anger against Ketkar, who according to them had insulted Shivaji in
his editorial. This editorial was a sarcastic criticism of the Maharashtra
Government’s move to build statue of Shivaji, which will be
taller than the one of statue of Liberty, and it will be located in
the Arabian Sea, on an island, which will have to be built and an
approach to the island will have to be made. This will involve expenses,
which will be in astronomical figures. Ketkar, one of the leading
journalist and conscience raiser of society, questioned the wisdom
of the
Government in planning for such a monument when the state is riddled
with so many problems, like farmers suicide, children’s malnutrition,
unemployment and the like. Ketkar had not once questioned the respect
for Shivaji which a large section of Mahrashtrians have.

What was
surprising was that apart from the attack, some of those posing to
be respecting Shivaji, claimed that such an ‘inspiring’
monument will solve the problems of the state! What is surprising
is that in a state known for its liberal, progressive traditions,
the tactics adopted by the likes of SSS have not been the only ones
of this type. Earlier we witnessed an attack on Bhandarkar Institute,
Pune by similar characters when James Laine’s book subtly hinted
at the real parentage of Shivaji. Since Laine did his research at
this institute. Similarly earlier Shiv Sena had created ruckus when
secular activist Teesta Setalvad had prepared a handbook for a school
which mentioned that Shivaji was a Shudra. While this is true, currently
the word Shudra is perceived in a derogatory sense so Shiv Sena’s
ire!

As such
Shivaji has been invoked to build a particular type of identity. In
current times Bal Thackeray in his anti non-Mahrashtrian stance built
it up for political gains. The same identity was used to give anti
Muslim message, contrary to the fact that Shivaji was not against
Muslims, he had innumerable Muslims in his administration, army, Navy
and what have you. He also had immense respect for Hazarat Baba Bahutthorwale
a Sufi saint. Contrary to the truth and facts Shiv Sena succeeded
in undertaking anti Muslim pogrom and anti Muslim politics to polarize
the Hindus, in the name of Shivaji. By and by Mahrashtraian identity
has come to be fixed around Shivaji alone, bypassing the glorious
heritage of Saints like Tukaram and Chokha Mela, bypassing the doyens
of social change like Jotiba Phule and Ambedkar. This bypasses innumerable
freedom fighters from Maharashtra and the large groups of rational
thinkers also.

Shivaji’s identity was deliberately picked up by communal forces
as there are few instances which if seen selectively, may sound against
Muslims and others. This selective projection has been employed for
motivated and crooked political calculations. They have most of the
times reaped political harvest by abusing the identity of Shivaji
for their political goals.

Last few
years with the growing neglect of social issues the identity politics
is being given exalted importance and so other political formations
have also been resorting to the use of this identity politics around
Shivaji. With the growth of this comes the intolerance where any criticism,
real or perceived against the icons is met with attacks aimed to muzzle
the voice of those protesting against some or other policy. The degree
of intolerance is so intense that the attackers are not bothered even
about the real social issues, they many a times, even don’t
read what has been written and merely on the ground of make believe;
take the law in their hands to pursue their politics. In Mahrashtra
Bal Thackeray did it to a great effect and now other political elements
are also doing the same. This type of politics essentially wants to
preserve the status quo and distract the attention from basic social
issues. Ketkar essentially was urging upon the
government to take the basic issues and not to resort to the politics
of tokenism.

In current
times, especially from last two decades the identity politics has
been imposed upon the society. It all began with RSS combine (RC)
(RSS and its progeny, BJP, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Vanvasi kalian Ashram
etc) throwing up the issue of Ram temple which was to distract the
attention from real issues related to caste, gender and workers-Adivasi
rights. With Lord Ram being brought forward as symbol of Indian identity
the problems of poor were pushed to the back seat and today what we
see that now Ram Sethu issue is being presented as the major problem.
Emotive, identity related issues have the potential to create social
hysteria and so have the power to undermine the real social problems.
Now the housing for poor gets substituted by temple for Lord Ram and
that’s how the agenda of this identity politics can be understood.

One recalls
attacks on journalists in the aftermath of Babri demolition. One is
witnessing today the attacks on those speaking against the goals of
divisive identity politics. While those undertaking such attacks must
be punished, the identity politics itself needs to be defeated and
the issues related to the people of society need to be put on the
forefront of the social agenda. The decade of 1980s saw the transition
when the issue based politics was undermined by diverse social processes
and vested interests to project their social interests in the name
of religion and in the wake of Meenakishipuram conversions of Dalts
to Islam, Shah Bano judgement and opening of the locks of Babri mosque
heralded the opening of floodgates of identity related issues and
politics.

It is not
that identity is always counter productive. For the oppressed groups
identity around their icons may give them necessary strength to demand
for their rights. But that is only in the beginning. Over a period
of time, the positive signals get converted into ritualism and the
inner meaning is gradually dwarfed. This is what happened with the
statues of Dr. Ambedkar. While the dalit politics was struggling to
invent new language to ensure their rights, the proliferation of statues
of Dr. Ambedkar was accompanied by infinite divisions in the dalit
movement. Those who were deeply opposed to the rising dalit assertion
and power took this opportunity and came in the field to erect bigger
statues while replacing his language of Learn, Organize and Struggle
with Social Harmony, Samajik Samarasta. These statues of Dr. Ambedkar
were also deliberately desecrated to create trouble in Dalit areas.
Currently large number of temples and statues of Shabri and
Hanuman are being installed by RSS affiliate Vanvasi Kalyan Ahsram
in Adivais areas to give the subtle message that Adivaisi are to upper
caste what Hanuman and Shabri were to Lord Ram.

While a
lot needs to be understood about Mayawati’s politics, from her
transition from Bahujan to Sarvajan, from her original dalit stance
to collaboration with BJP for some time, her defense of Gujarat carnage
and her electoral interventions which may mostly be benefiting the
BJP politics, what is undoubted is that while initially she gave a
sort of strength to dalits quest for assertion, currently she is more
busy with erecting her own statues. At the same time her stance of
sitting on a level higher than her supporters; also indicate the shift
from Ambedkar’s values of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
The complexity of social phenomenon is immense. While those talking
in the language of Rights are being marginalized the one’s projecting
identity and emotive issues are making hay. Attack on Ketkar on this
ground has more to say than just freedom of expression, it also reminds
us that the type of opinions which could be expressed freely some
time
ago is a no-no in contemporary times.

The best
example of this is probably celebrated and currently hounded painter
M.F. Hussein. While he drew Goddess Sarswati and many other such paintings
in previous decades, the attacks came in last two decades alone. The
same paintings were ‘discovered’ in 90s and he became
the target of attacks and forced to leave India. Case of Taslima also
comes fairly close. While not commenting on her understanding of Koran
and Islam, one can say that she also had to suffer much more from
late nineties till now.

The writers,
painters and opinion makers are consciously being intimidated and
frightened to ensure that merchants of identity politics are able
to undermine the issues related to bread, butter, shelter, employment
and human rights. And that’s what is the agenda of those who
unleash the politics of Rath yatras, Gujarat Carnage, beat up Taslima
or attack Ketkar. At surface they may sound to be divided along religious
lines, but they have a deeper unity, abolish democracy-bring in identity
based nation state.

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